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Monday, 10 June 2013

Ideas about the budget and a few suggestions to boost the economy -- As written on 4th Feb 2013

I am having a diesel car for my own use but I do
not mind if you increase the price of diesel to the extent that the companies
who produce diesel at least do not make a loss. But besides a rise in inflation
that would influence the decision to raise diesel prices, the decision should
not burden a class of society that depend on it, raising interference from your
allies. Alternatively, I can suggest that you increase the excise duty on
diesel cars to compensate for the one lakh crore subsidy presently being paid
by the government on diesel. Although lobby of diesel car manufacturing
companies would not leave any stone unturned to stop you.

My wife is very happy that the LPG cylinder
that she uses is in fact 70% cheaper than its actual cost. I don’t mind if you
tax her by raising LPG prices to the extent that LPG producing companies make a
reasonable profit. I am certainly in favor of making LPG available to below
middle class at a cheaper rate. You have to find out a solution for this. Just
like you have put a cap of 6 cylinders per year per family, similarly LPG can
be made available through ration shops at a cheaper rate.

For the last 5 years Gold across the globe
has been mis-marketed as a hedge against currency or country. I don’t know the
real statistics behind it. But I know it has become the major culprit in
economical growth of my country. As per Mr. C. Rangrajan current account
deficit has risen to 4.6 % in first half of current fiscal due to massive
imports of Gold. It is a non productive investment. Thus you must raise import
duty on Gold as huge budgetary deficit has become a major hindrance in growth.

I got to know that out of our total population
of 125 crore people there are only 3.25 crore tax payers. Out of this only 12
lakh people fall in the category of Rs.10 to 20 lakhs Income per year and just
3.5 lakh people in the bracket of the above Rs.20 lakhs Income per year
category. These numbers of tax payers are less than 27.33 lakhs population of
your very posh neighbourhood South Delhi alone. In 2000-2001, 2.5 crore people
paid taxes. This number exceed nominally to just 3.24 crore tax payers in
2010/2011. Also our per capita GDP grew to USD 2000 last year compared to
USD 450 in 2001. Therefore, widening your tax net would be a wise move. 45% of USA citizens pay taxes as opposed to only 3%
in India.

I am as fearful as you are citing the chances
of our ratings being downgraded to Junk status by International Rating Agency.
But I, probably like you, am masking a brave face but praying that it does
not happen. Therefore you need to kick start the investment cycle once
again and do its fiscal consolidation soon.

External Debt has skyrocketed. Our foreign exchange
reserves cover 80 % of our debt presently as against 110% just three years ago.
You need to encourage exports by leaps and bounds.Faster implementation DTC AND GST would be a boon
to the country. It is understood that Implementation of GST alone will add 1 %
to GDP.

Since you do not provide any social security
to retired people thus you should raise deduction under 80cc to 3 lakhs against
1 lakh now.Capital gain tax in shares has been a bone of
contention between assessing officer and assesse. You should clarify short and
long term capital gain tax. It will stop undue litigation and
corruption.